2015 BYU Cougars men's volleyball team explained

Sport:	men's volleyball
Year:	2015
Prev Year:	2014
Next Year:	2016
Team:	BYU Cougars
Conference:	Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Short Conf:	MPSF
Record:	17–10
Conf Record:	14–8
Head Coach:	Chris McGown
Hc Year:	4th
Asst Coach1:	Rob Neilson
Ac1 Year:	8th
Asst Coach2:	Mike Wilton
Ac2 Year:	7th
Asst Coach3:	Carl McGown
Ac3 Year:	4th
Stadium:	Smith Fieldhouse

The 2015 BYU Cougars men's volleyball team represented Brigham Young University in the 2015 NCAA Division I men's volleyball season. The Cougars, led by fourth year head coach Chris McGown, played their home games at Smith Fieldhouse. The Cougars were members of the MPSF and were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll.^[1] The Cougars finished the season 14–8 in conference play, good for fifth in the conference. They were eliminated in the first round of the MPSF Playoffs and did not make the NCAA Tournament.

Season highlights

• BYU began the season looking to replace Taylor Sander, a three-time All-American who was BYU's best attacker, best passer, and best server. Sander led BYU to the Final Four twice and to 3-consecutive MPSF Championship matches. Josue Rivera, who was second on the team in kills in 2014, comes in a little dinged after having off-season shoulder surgery. 3 starters return from the 2014 team: Rivera, Michael Hatch, and Jaylen Reyes. These three are largely expected to make-up Sander's production along with some newcomers.^[2]

Roster

2015 BYU Cougars roster^[3]
	Defensive specialist/libero 3 Evan Chang - Junior 8 Erik Sikes - Freshman 12 Jaylen Reyes - Senior Middle blockers 1 Price Jarman - Freshman 17 Joseph Grosh - Sophomore 21 Christian Rupert - Freshman 23 Michael Hatch - Junior		Outside hitters 5 Kiril Meretev - Sophomore 6 Josue Rivera - Senior 7 Phil Fuchs - Senior 10 Jake Langolis - Sophomore 14 Tyler Hutchins - Junior 15 Brenden Sander - Freshman		Opposite hitters 2 Carson Heninger - Junior 11 Matt Underwood - Junior 16 Tim Dobbert - Sophomore Setters 4 Leo Durkin - Freshman 9 Tyler Heap - Junior 18 Robbie Sutton - Junior 22 Chandler Gibb - Freshman

Schedule

BYU Radio will simulcast all BYUtv games with the BYUtv feed.

Date Time	Opponent	Rank	Arena City (Tournament)	Television	Score	Attendance	Record (MPSF record)
1/9 6 p.m.	vs. #2 Loyola-Chicago	6^[4]	Maples Pavilion Stanford, CA	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23)	483^[5]	0-1^[6]
1/10 5:30 p.m.	vs. #9 Lewis	6	Maples Pavilion Stanford, CA	Pac-12 Digital	W 3-2 (25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 24-26, 15-11)	623^[7]	1-1^[8]
1/16 7 p.m.	4 UCLA	7^[9]	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-17)	4,105^[10]	2-1 (1-0)^[11]
1/17 7 p.m.	4 UCLA	7	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-1 (17-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-15)	3,961^[12]	3-1 (2-0)^[13]
1/23 8 p.m.	@ #8 UC Santa Barbara	4^[14]	Robertson Gymnasium Goleta, CA		L 3-0 (21-25, 18-25, 22-25)	380	3-2 (2-1)^[15]
1/24 8 p.m.	@ #8 UC Santa Barbara	4	Robertson Gymnasium Goleta, CA		W 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 19-25, 19-25, 15-13)	625	4-2 (3-1)^[16]
1/30 7 p.m.	UC San Diego	7^[17]	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-18)	3,415^[18]	5-2 (4-1)^[19]
1/31 7 p.m.	UC San Diego	7	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT		W 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-21)	2,463^[20]	6-2 (5-1)^[21]
2/6 7 p.m.	Cal Baptist	7	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-10, 25-15)	3,041^[22]	7-2 (6-1)^[23]
2/7 7 p.m.	Cal Baptist	7	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-20)	3,106^[24]	8-2 (7-1)^[25]
2/12 8 p.m.	@ #2 USC	7	Galen Center Los Angeles, CA	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-16, 25-23, 16-14)	900	8-3 (7-2)^[26]
2/13 8 p.m.	@ #2 USC	7	Galen Center Los Angeles, CA	Pac-12 Digital	W 3-1 (25-20, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19)	1,500	9-3 (8-2)^[27]
2/20 7 p.m.	9 Long Beach State	5^[28]	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-22)	3,337^[29]	10-3 (9-2)^[30]
2/21 7 p.m.	9 Long Beach State	5	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-1 (26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23)	3,299^[31]	11-3 (10-2)^[32]
2/27 7 p.m.	13 Ball State	4^[33]	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-23)	2,675^[34]	12-3^[35]
2/28 7 p.m.	13 Ball State	4	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-19)	2,890^[36]	13-3^[37]
3/6 8 p.m.	@ Stanford	4	Maples Pavilion Stanford, CA	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 16-25, 18-25)	779^[38]	13-4 (10-3)^[39]
3/7 8 p.m.	@ Stanford	4	Maples Pavilion Stanford, CA	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-1 (21-25, 26-24, 24-26, 18-25)	1,055^[40]	13-5 (10-4)^[41]
3/20 8 p.m.	@ #4 Pepperdine	6^[42]	Firestone Fieldhouse Malibu, CA	WavesCast	L 3-2 (23-25, 26-24, 25-27, 25-13, 15-13)	1,188^[43]	13-6 (10-5)^[44]
3/21 8 p.m.	@ #4 Pepperdine	6	Firestone Fieldhouse Malibu, CA	WavesCast	L 3-1 (24-26, 17-25, 25-23, 25-27)	1,454^[45]	13-7 (10-6)^[46]
3/27 7 p.m.	5 UC Irvine	6	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	L 3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 27-29, 23-25)	3,962^[47]	13-8 (10-7)^[48]
3/28 8 p.m.	5 UC Irvine	6	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	L 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 19-25, 18-25)	3,610^[49]	13-9 (10-8)^[50]
4/10 8 p.m.	@ #13 Cal State Northridge	6	Matadome Northridge, CA	Matador TV	W 3-0 (28-26, 25-21, 25-15)	309	14-9 (11-8)^[51]
4/11 8 p.m.	@ #13 Cal State Northridge	6	Matadome Northridge, CA	Matador TV	W 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-22)	594	15-9 (12-8)^[52]
4/17 7 p.m.	1 Hawaiʻi	6	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-1 (27-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17)	3,780^[53]	16-9 (13-8)^[54]
4/18 7 p.m.	1 Hawaiʻi	6	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13)	3,953^[55]	17-9 (14-8)^[56]
4/25 8 p.m.	@ #8 USC	6	Galen Center Los Angeles, CA (MPSF Quarterfinal)	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-2 (17-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 13-15)	2,000	17–10

y-Indicates NCAA Playoffs

Times listed are Mountain Time Zone.

Announcers for televised games

• vs. Loyola: No announcers
• vs. Lewis: No announcers
• UCLA: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• UCLA: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• UC San Diego: Jarom Jordan & Steve Vail
• Cal Baptist: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• Cal Baptist: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• @ USC: Mark Beltran & Paul Duchesne
• @ USC: Mark Beltran & Paul Duchesne
• Long Beach State: Jarom Jordan & Steve Vail
• Long Beach State: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• Ball State: Spencer Linton & Steve Vail
• Ball State: Spencer Linton & Steve Vail
• @ Stanford: No announcers
• @ Stanford: No announcers
• @ Pepperdine: Al Epstein
• @ Pepperdine: Al Epstein
• UC Irvine: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• UC Irvine: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• @ Cal State Northridge: No announcers
• @ Cal State Northridge: No announcers
• Hawai′i: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• Hawai′i: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• @ USC: Mark Beltran

References

See also: 2014 BYU Cougars football team, 2014–15 BYU Cougars men's basketball team, 2014–15 BYU Cougars women's basketball team, 2014 BYU Cougars women's soccer team and 2014 BYU Cougars women's volleyball team.

Notes and References

1. Web site: BYU picked to finish sixth in the MPSF. Sun Times. 2014-11-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20150109234751/http://saltlakecity.suntimes.com/byu-cougars/7/141/38051/byu-picked-to-finish-sixth-in-the-mpsf. 2015-01-09. dead.
2. Web site: Cougars look forward to proving themselves without star Taylor Sander. 8 January 2015. Deseret News. 2015-01-08.
3. Web site: Men's Volleyball 2023-24 .
4. Web site: AVCA Division I-II Men's Preseason Poll: December 10, 2014. 2014-12-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20141211034746/http://www.avca.org/divisions/men/1-2-poll-12-10-14/. 2014-12-11. dead.
5. Web site:
   1. 6 BYU vs. #2 Loyola
   . Stat Broadcast . 2015-01-09.
6. Web site: No. 6 BYU falls short in season opener to No. 2 Ramblers. 9 January 2015. . 2015-01-09.
7. Web site:
   1. 6 BYU vs. #9 Lewis
   . Stat Broadcast . 2015-01-10.
8. Web site: Langlois and BYU beat Lewis in five-set thriller. 10 January 2015. . 2015-01-10.
9. Web site: AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #1 Poll: January 12, 2015. 2015-01-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20150115000641/http://www.avca.org/divisions/men/1-2-poll-1-12-15/. 2015-01-15. dead.
10. Web site:
    1. 4 UCLA vs. #7 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-01-16.
11. Web site: Cougars upset No. 4 Bruins in home opener. 16 January 2015. . 2015-01-16.
12. Web site:
    1. 4 UCLA vs. #7 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-01-17.
13. Web site: BYU volleyball team wraps up big weekend with another win over No. 4 UCLA. 17 January 2015. . 2015-01-17.
14. Web site: AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #2 Poll: January 19, 2015. 2015-01-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20150120133803/http://www.avca.org/divisions/men/1-2-poll-1-19-15/. 2015-01-20. dead.
15. Web site: Cougars upset at UCSB in first conference road battle. 23 January 2015. . 2015-01-23.
16. Web site: Langlois leads No. 4 BYU past No. 8 UCSB in five-set thriller. 24 January 2015. . 2015-01-24.
17. Web site: AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #3 Poll: January 26, 2015. 2015-01-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20150129015812/http://www.avca.org/divisions/men/1-2-poll-1-26-15/. 2015-01-29. dead.
18. Web site: UC San Diego vs. #7 BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2015-01-30.
19. Web site: No. 7 BYU sweeps UC San Diego for 31st-straight home win. 30 January 2015. . 2015-01-30.
20. Web site: UC San Diego vs. #7 BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2015-01-31.
21. Web site: BYU Cougar spikers take down San Diego in straight sets on consecutive nights. 31 January 2015. . 2015-01-31.
22. Web site: Cal Baptist vs. #7 BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2015-02-06.
23. Web site: Cougars beat Cal Baptist behind Grosh's career night. 6 February 2015. . 2015-02-06.
24. Web site: Cal Baptist vs. #7 BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2015-02-07.
25. Web site: BYU men's volleyball team takes down Cal Baptist in straight sets. 7 February 2015. . 2015-02-07.
26. Web site: No. 7 BYU loses a five-set heartbreaker to No. 2 USC. 13 February 2015. . 2015-02-14.
27. Web site: Underwood and Cougars upset No. 2 USC on the road. 14 February 2015. . 2015-02-14.
28. Web site: AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #6 Poll: February 16, 2015. 2015-02-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20150219042132/http://www.avca.org/divisions/men/1-2-poll-2-16-15/. 2015-02-19. dead.
29. Web site:
    1. 9 Long Beach State vs. #5 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-02-20.
30. Web site: Underwood hits career high in BYU volleyball's sweep of LBSU. . 2015-02-20.
31. Web site:
    1. 9 Long Beach State vs. #5 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-02-21.
32. Web site: BYU men's volleyball takes a thrilling 4-set match over Long Beach State. 21 February 2015. . 2015-02-21.
33. Web site: AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #7 Poll: February 23, 2015. 2015-02-23. https://archive.today/20150319211849/http://www.avca.org/divisions/men/1-2-poll-2-23-15/. 2015-03-19. dead.
34. Web site:
    1. 13 Ball State vs. #4 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-02-27.
35. Web site: Cougars sweep Cardinals behind Sander's eight kills. 27 February 2015. . 2015-02-27.
36. Web site:
    1. 13 Ball State vs. #4 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-02-28.
37. Web site: The Cougars sweep Ball State on consecutive nights. 28 February 2015. . 2015-02-28.
38. Web site:
    1. 4 BYU vs. Stanford
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-03-06.
39. Web site: No. 4 BYU upset at Stanford. 6 March 2015. . 2015-03-06.
40. Web site:
    1. 4 BYU vs. Stanford
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-03-07.
41. Web site: Despite career nights, Cougars fall at Stanford. 7 March 2015. . 2015-03-07.
42. Web site: AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #10 Poll: March 16, 2015. 2015-03-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20150319153809/http://www.avca.org/divisions/men/1-2-poll-3-16-15/. 2015-03-19. dead.
43. Web site:
    1. 6 BYU vs. #4 Pepperdine
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-03-20.
44. Web site: Cougars fall in tough five-set battle at Pepperdine. . 2015-03-20.
45. Web site:
    1. 6 BYU vs. #4 Pepperdine
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-03-21.
46. Web site: No. 6 BYU falls short at No. 4 Pepperdine. 21 March 2015. . 2015-03-21.
47. Web site:
    1. 5 UC Irvine vs. #6 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-03-27.
48. Web site: Cougars fall at home to UC Irvine. 27 March 2015. . 2015-03-27.
49. Web site:
    1. 5 UC Irvine vs. #6 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-03-28.
50. Web site: Cougars drop consecutive matches to Irvine. 28 March 2015. . 2015-03-28.
51. Web site: Underwood shines in Cougar win at CSUN. 10 April 2015. . 2015-04-10.
52. Web site: Cougars sweep Matadors for second-straight night. 11 April 2015. . 2015-04-11.
53. Web site:
    1. 1 Hawaiʻi vs. #6 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-04-17.
54. Web site: Cougars upset No. 1 Hawai'i at home. 17 April 2015. . 2015-04-17.
55. Web site:
    1. 1 Hawaiʻi vs. #6 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2015-04-18.
56. Web site: BYU volleyball team finishes off regular season with a thrilling five-set win over No. 1-ranked Hawaii. 19 April 2015. . 2015-04-19.